Kia’s Soul EV lauded as greenest car available
by Cleantech Canada Staff
The Soul EV is a zero emission vehicle with a lithium-ion polymer battery that has a 149 km range
TORONTO—Kia Canada received multiple awards last week recognizing the Soul EV sedan as the most eco-friendly car on the market.
At the Green Living Show, the Soul EV won the 2015 Canadian Green Car Award.
The award recognizes vehicles that offer low emissions, have mass market appeal, and are widely available in Canada.
The winner is selected from the finalists from six different categories. The Soul EV was named best in the battery electric category, and beat the other finalists from the hybrid, plug-in hybrid, efficient gas or diesel, efficient three-row, and fun car categories. The cars were nominated and judged by 14 automotive journalists. They selected a winner based on test drives, technical specifications, and experience.
Maria Soklis, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Kia Canada Inc. said “This acknowledgement is testimony to Kia’s ongoing commitment to deliver environmentally friendly automotive solutions and diverse powertrains to consumers without compromising on design or comfort.”
The Soul EV won a similar award earlier in the week from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). At the Vancouver International Auto Show on Tuesday, the car was named the 2015 Canadian Green Car of the Year.
AJAC surveys conducted by Meritz Research suggest these awards can strongly affect consumer choices. In 2013, all of the Honda Accord buyers surveyed said they were aware the Accord was the Canadian Car of the Year winner, and 56 per cent said the award influenced their decision to purchase.
The Soul EV was also showcased in the AJAC EcoRun, which wrapped up last Thursday night. The event aims to raise consumer awareness of eco-friendly vehicles and provide real-world testing of fuel efficiency. It involved a team of automotive journalists making a two-day drive from Nanaimo to Vancouver in 20 fuel-efficient vehicles ranging from compacts to SUVs.
One of the journalists in the EcoRun was Lorraine Sommerfield from Postmedia. She said the event provides the information modern consumers are looking for: “a better understanding of emerging technologies, and the impact they’ll have on real people’s lives.”
The Soul EV is a zero emission vehicle. Its lithium-ion polymer battery has a 149 kilometer range on full charge. The electric motor provides 109 horse power and can achieve a maximum speed of 145 kilometers per hour.
